A co-operative that invests in fair trade businesses around the world, has been recognised by the Social Enterprise Awards.
Newcastle-based Shared Interest Society won the International Impact category at last night’s awards in London.
The annual event, organised by Social Enterprise UK (SEUK), highlights those social enterprises that are ahead of the pack, leading the way when it comes to innovation and impact.
The ceremony, held at the Royal Horticultural Halls, London, was hosted by comedian Aisling Bea who was joined onstage by SEUK patrons, actor Michael Sheen and director/comedian Chris Addison.
Shared Interest is an ethical investment organisation which aims to alleviate poverty by helping people in remote and disadvantaged communities to trade and earn a living. It invites people to open a share account, which pools funds with other investors and makes a load to a fair trade business to purchase equipment or finance pre-orders. The loan is then repaid to Shared Interest and added back into the pool of funds.
Additionally, Denbighshire Music Cooperative was highly commended for its response to local authority cuts in funding for musical tuition.
The winner of the UK Social Enterprise of the year is Brighton based social enterprise, Here which creates health services and solutions shaped around the needs of the person.
Commenting on this year’s ceremony Michael Sheen said: “It’s a privilege to attend my first Social Enterprise Awards and 2017 is the biggest and best yet! The many nominees and winners show us that you can put people and society before profit AND be a successful business. When they win, we all win! Tonight’s winners showcase just what the future of business looks like and It’s a real privilege to be part of their evening as Patron of Social Enterprise UK.”
Peter Holbrook, chief executive of Social Enterprise UK said: “The UK Social Enterprise Awards are a real testament to the dynamism and diversity of the UK social enterprise sector. This year’s winners have included a social enterprise employing IT consultants who bring together the unique talents of people living with autism, coffee carts transforming the lives of those without a home, a film company opening up the creative industries to young people and even a social enterprise dental service working in some of the Uk’s most challenging neighbourhoods. Social enterprises are continuing to prove that they’re a force to be reckoned with, they’re creating solutions to some of the biggest challenges we face and showing how business can and should be done.”
The winners of the UK Social Enterprise Awards 2017 were:
2017 UK Social Enterprise of the Year Award (Sponsored by NatWest)
Here
Here deliver health services together with their partners in Brighton and Hove, Sussex and beyond. Their social mission is their purpose: ‘Care Unbound. To create more possibilities for care in every moment’. Through partnership, they create health services and solutions which are shaped by the needs of the person. Founded in 2008, Here are owned by GPs, practice managers, nurses and their staff. Their partners include citizens, GPs and local health care practitioners, clinical commissioning groups (CCGs), NHS Trusts, third sector providers, social enterprises, independent sector and other healthcare companies and community groups. They transform the focus of care from ‘what’s the matter?’ to ‘what matters to you?’
One to Watch Award (Sponsored by GLL)
Auticon
Autistic adults often have extraordinary cognitive abilities, yet many find it difficult to secure or maintain mainstream employment. Auticon recognises this potential and is the first enterprise to exclusively employ autistic adults as consultants. By creating autism-positive work environments and offering sustained support mechanisms to autistic employees, Auticon provides its corporate clients with a means to tap into the talents of autistic people while creating long-term careers for its team.
Highly Commended
Ashton Community Trust
Ashton Community Trust is an award-winning social regeneration charity that works to deliver real benefits for local people. It was formally established in 1991 with a mission ‘To promote positive change and improve the quality of life of the North Belfast community.’ Located in the New Lodge area of North Belfast it works to address severe levels of social and economic deprivation.
Soap Co.
The Soap Co. is an ethical luxury brand that creates sophisticated body care products that are good and do good. Based in East London, and with a traditional workshop in the Lake District, all products are handcrafted by people who are blind, disabled or otherwise disadvantaged. They take pride in paying attention where it matters, from their award-winning minimalist design to locally sourced bottles and compostable soap wrappers.
Denbighshire Music Co-op
Denbighshire Music Cooperative is a ‘not for profit’ instrumental and vocal schools tuition service based in Denbighshire, North Wales. In 2015 Denbighshire council became the first local authority across Wales to completely cut funding for vocal and instrumental lessons for children in schools – this move saw the end of all ensembles in the county and the redundancy of 22 tutors. Determined not to give up a core group of tutors formed the cooperative to create a ‘new vision for music provision in Denbighshire’. DMC now boasts some 60 teacher members and holds 9 weekly ensembles and a Saturday morning music academy. The service is thriving and supporting other counties in Wales as further cuts to music occur.
Prove It: Social Impact Award (Sponsored by PwC)
Enabling Enterprise was set up in 2009 by a team of teachers to address a fundamental gap in the education system: how to build essential skills like teamwork, leadership, resilience and effective communication that unlock learning and underpin successful employable futures. Seven years on, and over 86,000 students have taken part in Enabling Enterprise programmes this year, in over 275 schools and in partnership with 130 employers.
Buy Social Market Builder Award (Sponsored by Here)
PwC
PwC has been supporting social enterprises for over ten years, helping create sustainable businesses that are good for the economy, people and planet. Their support includes The Fire Station, a social enterprise hub in London and has extended nationally through their Social Entrepreneurs Club, supporting over 250 through mentoring, masterclasses and awards. They offer practical advice for social enterprises and to their suppliers, enabling PwC to increase their spend with social enterprises year on year. PwC is proud to be founding members of the Corporate Challenge, supporting the ‘Buy Social‘ campaign.
Social Investment Deal of the Year Award (Sponsored by Big Society Capital)
Social Investment Cymru & Gofal Enterprises
Gofal Enterprises Limited (GEL) is the trading subsidiary of leading Welsh mental health and wellbeing charity Gofal. It acts as TOPCO to a number of social businesses. Operating since 2010, GEL aims to lead social enterprise innovation in Wales by running a portfolio of socially profitable businesses, with any surplus profits invested back into the charity, Gofal. Additionally GEL aims to create employment, training and volunteering opportunities for those furthest from the labour market.
Health & Social Care Social Enterprise Award (Sponsored by Cordant Group)
Community Dental Services
Community Dental Services is a Social Enterprise formed as a Community Interest Company in April 2011 under the DH Right-to-Request programme. The major business activity is providing dental services and oral health promotion to NHS patients in Bedfordshire with a particular focus on patients with special treatment needs or where patients have difficulty in accessing high-street dentists. A complete range of dentistry is available from over 50 clinical staff located in 9 clinics. Recent contract awards include a 3-year PDS contract from NHS Suffolk working in partnership with Serco Health; CDS fully meets General Dental Council requirements for employing dentists. An expansion of services delivered from fully equipped mobile clinics is underway including paid-for services delivered to residential homes.
Consumer Facing Social Enterprise Award (Sponsored by the Co-op)
Change Please
Change Please is an organisation working hard to transform the lives of homeless people. By training and employing homeless people to be baristas, paying London Living Wage, helping with housing, providing emotional support and a clear path into employment, they are helping homeless people to once again feel safe secure and valued by society. By meeting society’s growing demand for coffee, Change Please is eliminating stigma and alleviating the problem of homelessness.
Education, Training & Jobs Award (Sponsored by Wates)
Brigade Bar & Bistro (Beyond Food)
Beyond Food CIC delivers training programmes for people affected by homelessness to help them break the cycle of poverty and move into meaningful employment. Everything they do is centred around hospitality and they run a three-stage progression programme at their Social Enterprise restaurant, Brigade in London Bridge.
Environmental Social Enterprise Award (Sponsored by Landmarc)
Belu
Belu offers the most ethical choice in water service from bottled mineral water, to filter machines and refillable bottles. They champion the environmental benchmark in the sector, produce award-winning great tasting British mineral water and give all profits to WaterAid to make safe water normal for everyone, everywhere. To date that’s £2.2M transforming over 146,000 lives with safe water, decent toilets and good hygiene
Tech for Good Award (Sponsored by Nominet Trust)
Cosmic
Cosmic is a digital agency based in Devon. As a social enterprise, their mandate is to support the digital needs of all people in our region, tackling the issue of digital inclusion. Cosmic want all people and organisations to have the skills, access and confidence to use digital technology to the best of its ability.
Women in Social Enterprise (Sponsored by Santander)
Rachel Wang – Chocolate Films
Rachel Wang is the Director of the production company and social enterprise, Chocolate Films. When Rachel founded Chocolate Films in 2001, she had no professional experience in media. Today, Chocolate Films is a full-service production company with 20 members of staff. Clients including Big Issue, Facebook, National Autistic Society and the Royal Collection. Rachel is passionate about outreaching to disadvantaged young people and vulnerable adults. Each year Chocolate Films provides filmmaking workshops to 3,000 people.
International Impact (Sponsored by the British Council)
Shared Interest Society
Shared Interest is an ethical investment organisation based in Newcastle which aims to alleviate poverty by helping people in remote and disadvantaged communities to trade and earn a living.
Transformative Community Business (Sponsored by Power to Change)
Food in Community CIC
Food in Community CIC collects local, mostly organically grown surplus produce from food businesses in and around Totnes and the surrounding area. They also glean produce straight from the fields. They distribute it to groups and organisations in the community making nutritious, delicious meals for all. They also work with local organisations to provide cooking sessions, where people can learn to prepare and cook healthy meals from scratch and reduce food waste.
